Door mechanism



Feb. 7, 1967 G. w. STURM ETAL DOOR MECI-IANI SM (5 Sheets-Sheet ILOriginal Filed July 15, 196

INVENTOR;

GEORGE w swan/1 ALAN osaoue/vs 1967 5. w. STURM ETAL DOOR MECHANI SMOriginal Filed July 15, 196

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 -F-\ l INVENTOR-S GEORGE W STURM ALAN OSBOURNE BY 41%W02 ORNEYS G. W. STU RM ETAL DOOR MECHANI SM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IINVENTORS GEORGE w STU/2M 1 ALAN OSBOURNE 1 AT ORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967Original Filed July 15. 1960 United States Patent 3,302,331 DOORMECHANISM George W. Sturm, 514 Ethan Allen Ave., Takoma Park, Md. 20012,and Alan Osbourne, Cabin John, Md.; said Osbourne assignor to said SturmOriginal application July 15, 1960, Ser. No. 43,077, now Patent No.3,145,854, dated Aug. 25, 1964. Divided and this application Aug. 21,1964, Ser. No. 391,179

13 Claims. (Cl.49248) This is a division of United States letters PatentNo. 3,145,854, the application for which was filed July 15, 1960, SerialNo. 43,077, entitled Ship and Cargo Handling Equipment, and issuedAugust 25, 1964.

The invention resides in certain improvements and combinations as willbe hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointedout in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of half clamping rings in accordance with theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of a tunnel portion secured by the halfclamping rings taken on section line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2A is a perspective view of one of the half clamping rings shownin FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the watertight side port door in accordancewith the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the watertight door taken on sectionline 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 shows the hydraulic system for opening and closing the doorshown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end of a tunnelportion; and

FIGURES 7A, 7B, and 7C are diagrammatic plan views in partial sectionillustrating the engaging of the half clamping rings with the groovedtunnel.

In the patent, No. 3,145,854, of which this is a divisional there isdisclosed means to load and unload a cargo ship from under the waterlineof the ship. The cargo ship involved is provided with a plurality ofunderwater ports each having a door which is swung aside to permit theinsertion of an underwater tunnel which is secured to the ship toprovide an underwater passageway to and from the ship. The mechanismemployed to secure the tunnel to the ships underwater port is the sameas is used to se cure the door closed over the underwater port. This isaccomplished by a pair of half clamping rings 125 and 126 which arelocated in a 'vestibule 73 relative to the underwater port 62 to engagegrooves 64 at the end of tunnel 70 or corresponding grooves 64A in thedoor 189. Thus, referring to FIGURES l and 2, it will be noted that theend of tunnel 70 is locked into the ships watertight vestibule 73 in alocked position by half clamping rings 125 and 126 which movehorizontally along guide rails 127. These clamping rings arewedge-shaped as shown in the perspective view FIGURE 2A.

The groove 64 is shown exaggerated in FIGURE 6. FIGURES 7A, 7B, and 7Cillustrate diagrammatically how the tunnel 70 (and in like manner, thedoor 189) is locked against the plating 71 of the ships hull. FIG. 7Ashows the tunnel 70 inserted sufliciently into the port 62 so that thegroove 64 can receive the wedge-shaped half clamping rings 125 and 126.As the half clamping rings move together, a collar 70A employed ontunnel 70 is drawn toward the ships hull 71 as shown in FIGURE 7B andfinally the tunnel 70 is locked securely in position with the collar 70Aengaging the plating 71 as shown in FIGURES 7C and 2. When door 189 isswung into place, over port 62, as is hereinafter more fully described,the half clamping rings 125 and 126 engage the groove 64A to urge thedoor 189 against the plating 71 in the same manner as collar-70A isbrought to bear against same.

Half clamping rings 125 and 126 are moved horizontally either togetheror apart by means of rotating threaded shafts 117 and 117A. In FIGURE 1,the threaded shaft 117 has a right-hand thread on its right side, andthe left side is threaded left-hand while shaft 117A has its right sidethreaded left-hand and its left side threaded righthand. Electric motor114 rotates threaded shaft 117 through gears 116 which, in turn, throughgears 118, rotates shaft 120. Further gears 121 journaled to shafts and117A cause threaded shaft 117A to rotate with shaft 120. By controllingthe rotation of motor 114, half clamping rings 125 and 126 are movedtogether or apart. A pneumatic gasket 77 outboard of groove 64 insureswatertight integrity.

FIGURES 3 and 4 relate to the underwater side port doors 189.

FIGURE 3 is an outboard profile of a hydraulically- -operated underwaterside port door with the hinges and mechanism for operating the doorlocated within the ship, thereby presenting a substantially smoothexterior hull surface.

Door 189 is hinged on its forward side at the top and bottom by a linkmotion assembly 155. A bracket 171 for supporting the door linkage issecured to the inner side of plating 71 of the ships hull andconstitutes the upper base for the doors linkage assemblage 155. Bracket171 is connected on its free end to link 166 through a pin 17 9. Pin 179is rigidly secured to link 166 and additionally is keyed to the shaft ofactuator 163. The casing of actuator 163, in turn, is secured to base171. Link 166 is connected on its further free end to a second link 167by pin 180. Pin 180 is rigidly secured to link 166 and in addition iskeyed to a second actuator 164. The casing of this second actuator 164is rigidly attached to the second link 167. In addition, the second link167 is connected on its further free end to the door 189 by means of pin177 inserted in boss 173 which extends from the inside of door 189. Pin177 is rigidly secured to second link 167 and is keyed to the shaft ofactuator 165. The casing of actuator 165 is secured to the door 189. Theupper link assemblage is housed in a watertight box 162 which is open tothe sea when door 189 is opened. The lower link assemblage is similarlyhoused in a watertight box 168 also open to the sea when door 189 isopened. Watertight boxes 162 and 168 are constructed so as to preventwater from entering the interior of the ship. It will be noted thatboxes 162 and 168 enclose boss 173 and the corresponding boss in thelower linkage assembly.

The lower link assemblage 160 is aligned with and corresponds to theupper link assemblage except that the actuators may be omitted, and itis contemplated that the weight of the door 189 will be substantiallysupported by the lower link assemblage. It should be noted that theupper and lower pins have their diameters graduated and stepped in tosupport properly the weight or buoyancy of side port door 189.

Door 189 when shut seals opening to antrum 73 by means of an O-ringpneumatic gasket 77 and the link assemblage boxes and 168 by an outergasket 138. It will be understood that gasket 138 is normally fastenedto the ships side or the door 189 and conforms to the shape of door 189with portions removed corresponding to the port 62 and boxes 162 and168. However, when O-ring 77 is deflated, and half clamping rings 125and 126 opened, water will enter into the antrum 73 to equalize thepressure inside and outside the door 189. A groove 64A is located on theinner edge of door 189 to engage half clamping rings 125 and 126 asshown in FIGURES 1 and 2, whereby door 189 may be locked closed.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, the operation of door 189 is asfol-lows:

Electric motor 201 (FIGURE 5) drives a hydraulic fluid pump 195. Pump195 is located in a lower level than the hydraulic fluid supplyreservoir 193. Fluid from 193 passes through line 194 to pump 195 and ispumped through filter 196 and line 198 to accumulator 200. When thepressure, after the accumulator, is at the desired level, apressure-actuated controller 203 turns off the electric motor 201.Should the pressure become less than the desired amount, the controller203 again starts the pump, as is usual in marine practice. Hydraulicfluid from line 204 passes to a 3-position valve 205. At the start ofthe operation, the 3-position valve 205 is closed. To open door 189 thehand wheel of valve 205 is turned until fluid in line 204 passes throughvalve 205 into line 207. From line 207 the fluid passes through aT-connection 208. The hydraulic fluid passes through line 231 to pistonvalve 210 and also through line 225 and through needle-valve 213 andline 226 to cylinder 211. The hydraulic pressure pushes against piston211A which, in turn, is directly connected to a double piston 215 invalve 210, moving the piston 215 past an opening to line 183. Hydraulicfluid from line 231 passes through valve 210 into line 183 to actuator163. The hydraulic fluid remaining in actuator 163 from the previousclosing operation of door 189 is released through line 184 and throughspace 219 of valve 210 and through line 192 to reservoir 193. Hydraulicfluid remaining in cylinder 211 from the previous closing operation ofdoor 189 is released through line 228, needle valve 212, lines 227 and216 to valve 205 and finally through line 218 to the reservoir 193.Remaining hydraulic fluid in the other end of valve 210 from theprevious closing operation of door 189 is released through line 229 andline 216 to valve 205 and line 218 into reservoir 193.

During the foregoing opening operation, actuator 163 turns pin 179counterclockwise 90 and link 166 similarly moves counterclockwise 90.

In FIGURE 5, as the piston 211A continues to be moved by hydraulicfluid, it, in turn, pushes the piston valve 215 and an opening to line185 is uncovered which receives hydraulic fluid. Hydraulic fluid passesthen from line 185 into actuator 164. The hydraulic fluid in actuator164 from the previous closing operation of door 189 is returned toreservoir 193 through line 186, valve chamber 219 and line 192.

During the foregoing operation, actuator 164 turns itself on pin 180clockwise 90 and link 167 likewise turns in a 90 clockwise direct-ion.Thus, it will be seen that while link 166 turns counterclockwise 90 onpin 179, link 167 turns clockwise 90 around pin 180 and door 189 movessmoothly out of the ships side plating 71 substantially perpendicularlyto plating 71.

Referring back to FIGURE 5, as piston 211A in cylinder 211 continues tobe moved by hydraulic fluid, piston 215 uncovers the opening to line 187and hydraulic fluid passes through line 187 to actuator 165. Thehydraulic fluid in the actuator 165 from the previous closing operationof door 189 passes through line 188 into valve chamber 219, through line192 into reservoir 193.

During the foregoing evolution, actuator 165 located on door 189 turnsitself on pin 177 counterclockwise substantial-1y 180. Door 189 alsomoves counterclockwise and opens substantially 180.

To close the door 189, valve 205 is set in its second position so thatfluid under pressure from line 204 passes to line 216, to T-connection214, and through line 227, needle valve 212, and line 228 into the otherend of cylinder 211. From T-connection 214 hydraulic fluid also passesthrough line 229 to the other end of piston valve 210. As the hydraulicfluid pressure is applied to piston 211A, the piston 215 in valve 210also moves in the same direction, passing between the aforementionedopenings in sequence to lines 188, 186 and 184 and permitting 4-hydraulic fluid to go to actuators 165, 164 and 163 in that order.

At the same time and in the same order the other end of piston valve 210clears lines 187, 185 and 183 permitting the low pressure fluid from theactuators to return to the reservoir 193.

The low pressure hydraulic fluid in cylinder 211 which was used to opendoor 189 returns to the reservoir 193 through line 226, needle valve213, line 225, line 207, and line 218. The low pressure hydraulic fluidin cylinder 210 which was used to open door 189 returns to the reservoir193 through lines 231, 207 and line 218. Dur ing this period actuator165 located on door 189 and boss 173 turns itself on pin 177 clockwisesubstantially 180 and since boss 173 is fixed to the door 189, the door189 moves clockwise substantially 180. Actuator 164 then turns itself onpin 180 counterclockwise 90 and link 167 likewise turns counterclockwise90. While this is going on actuator 163 turn link 166 clockwise 90 andthe door 189 is brought smoothly inward parallel to correspondingportion of the ships hull plating 71 and closed. Half clamping rings 125and 126 are then moved together into groove 64A and door 189 is therebylocked in place.

It will be recognized that parts of the lines 185, 186, 187, and 188 aremade of flexible hose or jointed pipe.

Actuators 163, 164 and 165 are torque actuators. Any suitable actuatorof this type known to the art may be employed. An example of suchactuators is the Rotac Torque Actuators produced by the Ex-Cell-OCorporation of Detroit, Michigan, as disclosed in its catalog No. 26282.The stops for upper linkage motion are installed inside the casings ofrotary actuators 163, 164 and 165. Interlocks may be employed so as toharmonize the sequence of the actuator operations. For example,interlocks may be provided whereby actuator 165 will always operateeither before or after actuators 163 and 164 have completed theirevolution, depending upon whether door 189 is being closed or opened.

It will be understood that the drawings in this case are diagrammaticand that details that would occur to those skilled in the art will havebeen omitted for purposes of clarity. For example, power sources, suchas wires to motors, have been omitted inasmuch as it is well under- Istood that electric motors will, of course, be suitably connected to anelectric power source.

The above description and drawings disclose several embodiments of theinvention, and specific language has been employed in describing theseveral figures. It will, nevertheless, be understood that nolimitations of the scope of the invention are thereby contemplated, andthat various alterations and modifications may be made such as wouldoccur to one. skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

We claim:

1. A watertight door for an opening to a space for precluding theentrance of water therein comprising a plate continuously overlappingthe outside of said opening, a gasket interposed therebetween when saidplate is in the overlapped portion of said opening, a pair of means toopen and secure said plate over said openings, the first of said meanscomprising torque actuator means interconnected to said plate for movingsaid plate perpendicularly away from said opening in its first openingmovement, the second of said means comprising further torque actuatormeans for swinging said plate through an arc of more than relative tosaid opening in its second opening movement, and a fluid control systemfor controlling said actuators.

2. Hinge means for opening and securing a door comprising a frame forsaid door, a bracket extending inwardly from said frame, a linkextending from said bracket substantially parallel to said door, a firstactuator to rotate said link from said bracket, a further linkr-otatably connected to the free end of.-the first- Inentioned link, asecond actuator to control the relative rotation of said first-mentionedlink with further link, said further link being substantiallyperpendicular to said door when said door is closed, a boss secured tothe inside of said door and rotatably secured to the free end of saidfurther link, a third actuator to control the relative rotation betweensaid further link and said boss, whereby when said door is opened saidfirst actuator rotates said link towards said door while at the sametime said sec-ond actuator rotates said further link in an oppositedirection causing said door to move outwardly from said door frame andsaid third actuator rotates said boss with said door attached theretoabout an arc to open said door. I

3. A watertight door for an underwater port in the hull of a vesselcomprising a plate sized to fit over said port, hinge means connectingthe hull of said vessel and said plate, said hinge means having a firstbracket extending rigidly inwardly from said hull, a first linkconnected to the inward end of said first bracket by first pivot means,a second link connected to the further end of said first link by secondpivot means, a second bracket extending inwardly from said plate, afurther end of said second link connected to the inward end of saidsecond bracket by third pivot means, said pivot means each beingoperatively associated with actuators where-by when said port opens,said first and second pivot means are first actuated to cause said doorto open outwardly substantially parallel to said port and third pivotmeans is thereafter actuated to cause said door to swing open about saidpivots in an arc of travel.

4. Means for locking a watertight covering member in closed positionrelative to an opening in a wall member comprising opposed half clampingrings, means to slide said half clamping rings whereby said halfclamping rings may be slid together and apart, said covering memberincluding flange means at its periphery engageable with one side of saidwall member and a further portion extendable through said opening, saidfurther portion having a slot about its edge, said clamping ringsdisposed on the other side of said wall member relative to said flangemeans, said half clamping ring being adapted to slide into said slot.

5. Door hinge means for combination with an opening in a structure and adoor sized to fit over said opening, said hinge means connecting saidstructure and said door and comprising a first bracket extendinginwardly from said structure, a first link connected to the inward endof said first bracket by first pivot means, a second link connected tothe further end of said first link by second pivot means, a secondbracket extending inwardly from said door, a further end of said secondlink connected to the inward end of said second bracket by a third pivotmeans, said pivot means being operatively associated with actuatorswhereby when said door opens, said first and second pivot means arefirst actuated to cause said door to open outwardly substantiallyparallel to said opening and third pivot means is thereafter actuated tocause said door to swing about said pivots in an arc of travel.

6. Means for looking a closure in a closed position relative to andopening in a wall member comprising a pair of opposed half clampingrings, each of said half clamping rings including a part wedge-shaped incross section with coplanar slide surfaces, means to slide said halfclamping rings whereby said half clamping rings may be slid together andapart, a slot substantially at and around the periphery of said closure,said slot including a pair of further coplanar slide surfaces with theplanes of said further coplanar surfaces being nonparallel, said furthercoplanar surfaces each being adapted to engage a coplanar surface ofsaid clamping rings, said slot conforming in shape to the wedge-shapedparts of said half clamping rings and adapted to receive saidwedge-shaped parts with the coplanar surfaces of said clamping ringsengaging the coplanar surfaces of said slot when said clamping rings areslid together whereby said half clamping rings continuously engage saidslot.

7. Means for locking a closure in accordance with claim 6 wherein saidclosure is substantially circular in shape.

8. Watertight door apparatus for submersible structure comprising anopening in said structure, a movable cover member for closing saidopening, said cover member including a circum-ferentially extendingflange disposed within said opening when said cover is closed, afastening device for clamping said cover member against the periphery ofsaid opening in a watertight relationship when said cover member is inclosed position, said fastening device including a clamping ringcomprised of two semicircular separable segments which are movablerelative to each other for expansion and contraction of the clampingring, said clamping ring frictionally engaging said flange oncontraction, the engaging surfaces of each of said segments of saidclam-ping rin-g being inclined relative to each other, wherebycontraction of said clamping ring forces said cover member against theperiphery of said opening.

9. Watertight door apparatus for submersible structure comprising anopening in said structure, a movable cover member for closing saidopening, said cover member including a circumferentially extendingflange, a fastening device for clamping said cover member against the periphery of said opening in a watertight relationship when said covermember is in closed position, said fastening device including a clampingring comprised of two semicircular separable segments which are movablerelative to each other for expansion and contraction of the clampingring, said clamping ring frictionally engaging said flange on thecontraction, the engaging surfaces of each of said segments of saidclamping ring with said flange being substantially coplanar and inclinedrelative to each other whereby contraction of said clamping ring forcessaid cover member against the periphery of said opening.

10. Watertight door apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein saidsegments are wedge-shaped in cross section.

11. Watertight door apparatus for a submersible structure comprising anopening in said structure, said opening having a circumferentiallyextending radially projecting flange, a movable cover member for closingsaid opening, said cover member including a circumferentially extendingfurther flange, a fastening device for clamping said cover memberagainst the periphery of said opening in a watertight relationship whensaid cover member is in closed position, said fastening device includinga clamping ring comprised of two semicircular separable segments whichare movable relative to each other for expansion and contraction of theclamping ring, said clamping ring frictionally engaging said furtherflange on contraction, the engaging surfaces of each of said segments ofsaid clamping ring with said further flange being substantially coplanarand inclined relative to each other whereby contraction of said clampingring forces said cover member against the periphery of said opening.

12. Watertight door apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein saidsegments engage said first mentioned flange on one side and said furtherflange on the other side.

13. Door apparatus comprising a structural opening, a hinged covermember for closing said opening, said cover member including a portionextending normally inwardly therefrom with a circumfer-entiallyextending flange on one end thereof, a fastening device for clampingsaid cover member against the periphery of said opening in tightrelationship when said cover member is in closed position, saidfastening device including a clamping ring comprised of two semicircularseparable segments which are movable relative to each other forexpansion and contraction of the clamping ring, said clamping ringfrictionally engaging said flange on contraction, the engaging surfacesof each of said segments of said clamping ring with said flange beingsubstantially coplanar and inclined relative to each other wherebycontraction of said clamping ring forces said cover member against theperiphery of said opening, and hinge means connected to said covermember, said hinge means located inwardly with respect to said covermember and comprising a plurality of torque actuators and a hydraulicsystem, whereby said cover member moves perpendicularly away from saidopening in its first movement and is swung out more than 90 degrees inits second movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,393,857 10/1921Utley 114173 2,224,292 12/1940 DWyer 2922565 2,338,622 1/1944 Clevelandet a1. 292256.67 2,457,625 12/1948 Amiot 26875 X 2,528,180 1 /1950Roe-hl 285158 2,576,387 11/1951 Buell 114117 2,637,453 /1953 Cleveland114-72 X 2,722,405 11/ 1955 Thomson et a1 2 6830 X 2,736,577 2/1956Mackey 285158 2,778,632 1/1957 Mercier 26866 FOREIGN PATENTS France.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS Kelly. Chadwicket a1. Muller.

'Emery.

Kinsey.

Gail.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLE'R, CHARLES E. OCONNELL,

Examiners.

A. H. FARRELL, J. K. BELL, Assistant Examiners.

1. A WATERTIGHT DOOR FOR AN OPENING TO A SPACE FORE PRECLUDING THEENTRANCE OF WATER THEREIN COMPRISING A PLATE CONTINUOUSLY OVERLAPPINGTHE OUTSIDE OF SAID OPENING, A GASKET INTERPOSED THEREBETWEEN WHEN SAIDPLATE IS IN THE OVERLAPPED PORTION OF SAID OPENING, A PAIR OF MEANS TOOPEN AND SECURE SAID PLATE OVER SAID OPENINGS, THE FIRST OF SAID MEANSCOMPRISING TORQUE ACTUATOR MEANS INTERCONNECTED TO SAID PLATE FOR MOVINGSAID PLATE PERPENDICULARLY AWAY FROM SAID OPENING IN ITS FIRST OPENING